Canceling-machine.



G. A. PPA LZGRAF.

OANCELING MACHINE. APPLICATION rmm OOT.18, 1910.

993.712, Patented May 30,1911.

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0.1x. PFALZGRAP.

OANGELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 18, 1910.

Patented Ma 30, 1-911.

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G. A. PFALZGRAF.

OANGELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HIfEi) OUT. 18, 1916. 4 993,71 2. Patented May 30,1911.

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1 a) 2 Q g 1\ Q E 1 S 31mm Q -W W W O. A. PFALZGRAP. OANGELING MAOHINRAPPLIOATIOK FILED OUT. 18, 1910.

- Patented May 30, 1911.

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avwwwto'a 6. /1. P/algyra/j CHARLES A. PFALZGRAF, OF NORTHWOOD, NORTHDAKOTA.

CANCELING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1911.

Application filed October 18, 1910. Serial No. 587,648.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. PFALZ GRAF, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Northwood, in the county of Grand Forks and State ofNorth Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCanceling-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to canceling machines, and more particularly tothat class adapted for use in post oflices for canceling stamps onenvelops, postal cards and the like.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a machine which willeffectually perform all of the duties for which it is intended.

Another object of this invention is to so construct a canceling machinethat the same may automatically cancel the stamps or other matter, andwhich will require a minimum amount of power to operate the same.

A further object is to so construct the device that the envelops, postalcards, etc., may be fed either by hand or automatically at one endthereof, and delivered at the oppo sites end with their stamps canceled,with great rapidity.

A still further object is to construct a stamp-canceling machine ofextremely simple construction provided with a number of rotating armsadapted to carry upon their free ends suitable rubber or metalliccanceling stamps for canceling the stamps upon the envelops, etc., saidcanceling stamps being detachable.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the canceling machine inoperation. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3is a bottom plan view. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detailperspective view of the elevated interrupted cam track. Fig. 7 is adetail view of one of the rotating arms carrying a canceling stamp.

In the drawings: 10 represents a table or base having side pieces 11 and12. Within this table 10 are suitable openings 13 through which theaxles, wheels, etc., protrude. The side members 11 and 12 may be securedto the table 10 in any suitable manner, the member 12 being providedwith apertures 14 near the opposite ends thereof, while the table isprovided upon its under side with bracket bearings, said openings 14 andbearings 15 being oppositely positioned. Shafts 16 and 17 are positionedtransversely of the table 10 and have their ends secured in theapertures 14 and bearings 15. The shaft 16 has secured near one endthereof, a beveled gear 18 adapted to mesh with a corresponding beveledgear 19 carried upon one end of a longitudinal shaft 20, whichlongitudinally extending shaft is secured in suitable brackets andcarries upon its opposite end a small beveled gear 21, the purpose ofwhich will be later described. the end of this shaft 20 is a verticallyextending shaft 22 which protrudes for some distance in either directionthrough one of the openings in the table 10. Upon the lower end of thisshaft is removably and adjustably secured a slightly beveled, large gearwheel 23 which is adapted to mesh with the small beveled gear 21 and isoperated thereby. The upper end of the vertical shaft 22 is threaded fora short distance and at the lower termination of these threads is asquared flange 24 formed integral therewith, the purpose of which willbe later described. Formed around the vertical shaft 22 is a sleeve 25which is secured upon the upper side of the table and is adapted toactas a guide for the vertical shaft to prevent the latter from swaying.

An inverted cup 26 is provided with a eentral circular opening 27 whichis adapted to receive the vertical shaft 22. This inverted cup is placedupon the shaft 22 between the flange 24 and the sleeve 25 and by meansof a suitable pin 28, and apertures 29 through said cup and verticalshaft, the said cup is locked to the shaft 22. If so desired, thevertical shaft may be provided with a series of suitable spacedapertures. The cup 26 is A short distance from providbd with a suitablenumber of vertical 7 slots 30 in the lower portion thereof, said slotsadapted to receive the flattened ends 31 of the canceling arms 32 whichwill later be more fully described. The arms 32 are preferably in theform of hollow tubes 33 which have their inner ends flattened as beforedescribed, and their outer ends provided with substantially U-shapedlocking slots 34, and springs 35 located within sald tubes, said tubes33 having smaller tubes 36 slidably arranged therein, the ends of saidslidable tubes pressing against the ends of the springs 35, the outerends of said smaller tubes project a short distance beyond the largetubes 33. Lock screws 37 are carried by said smaller tubes and areadapted to work within the lock slots 34 within the outer ends of thelarger tubes for the purpose of locking the smaller tubes in either oftwo positions. arms 32 are adapted to be pivotally held within the slots30 by means of suitable pins passing through said flattened ends and theslotted portions of the said cup 26.

' Suitable canceling stamps (or Stampers) 39 are detachably secured uponthe outer free ends of the arms 32.

An elevated interrupted cam track 40 is positioned upon the top of thetable 10 and encircles the vertical shaft 22. The cam track 40 is ofsuch construction and size that the larger tubes 33 rest upon the edgethereof and are held there'against by means of forked U-shaped springs41. These springs 41 are of flat material and have a square centralopening through which square central opening 42 passes the squaredflange 24. The forked ends of these springs receive the outer ends ofthe large tubes 33 and resiliently hold them against the interrupted camtrack 40. A collar 43 rests against the springs 41 and surrounds thethreaded portion of the shaft 22 to a certified distance. A tensionwheel 44 is adapted to be rotated upon the threaded portion of the shaft22 and screwed down against the collar 43 for the purpose of regulatingthe "tension of the flat springs 41.

The transverse shafts 16 and 17 are provided with rollers 45.and 46 overwhich rollers passes an endless belt 47 provided with spacing andguiding pins 48 which pins are adapted to space the letters from oneanother and guide them properly along the machine. It will be understoodthat these rollers 45 and 46 are positioned within two oppositelylocated openings within said table 10, and are of such diameter that thesurface thereof is practically flush with the upper side of the table10. Upon the table 10 near the stamping end thereof, and opposite thevertical shaft 22 is secured a flat piece 49 of resilient material suchas leather, rubber etc. The endless belt 47 is adapted to pass over thispad 49 and as each letter reaches its position on the belt, a cancelingstamp upon one of the cancel arms is forced down upon the said letterand thereby cancels the stamp, or stamps thereupon.

The machine may be operated by means of a gas engine, electricity or anyother suitable power, a belt from the engine passing over the belt wheel50, carried upon the longitudinally extending shaft 20, and

thereby operating the entire machine.

The device operates as follows: Thewheel 50 is operated by means of thepower most suitable, this wheel being rigid with the longitudinal shaft20; the latter is caused to rotate, and through the medium of thebeveled gears 18 and 19 the shaft 16 is op- The flattened ends 31, ofthe springs and the canceling stamp is pressed against the ink pad 51,the arm is immediately raised from engagement with this pad, by means ofthe cam track and is gradually elevated until it reaches a positionopposite the pad 49 and directly over the endless belt, at which momentowing to the shape of the interrupted track, it is forced downwardly andthe canceling stamp with ink thereupon is pressed against the letter orother matter to be canceled, and the work of canceling the stampsthereupon is performed. 1

The arm is immediately raised from against the mail matter and isgradually elevated until it reaches the proper position to be againpressed against the ink pad and carried around tocancel other matter. Itwill be readily understood that these arms and canceling stamps arecarried around and pressed against the ink pad and then against thematter to be canceled in rapid succession and perfect order, the lettersand'other matter being continually fed upon the opposite end of theendless belt and guided by means of the guide pins to the properposition above the cushion pad 49 to be stamped after which they aredellvered from the stamping end of the machine with the stamps properlycanceled.

It will be noted that the canceling stamps may be of such form that theymay be reversed, thus allowing a double stamp to be carried by each arm.By means of the U- shaped locking slots and the locking pins, thereversible stampers may be locked 1n either position.

It will be apparent that changes in the form, proportions and minordetails of construction may be resorted to without departing from thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a canceling machine, the combination of a table having suitableopenings therethrough, transverse shafts secured to the underside ofsaid table, rollers upon said transverse shafts, an endless belt passingover said rollers, guide members on said endless belt, a beveled gearupon one end of one of the transverse shafts, a longitudinally extendingshaft secured to the underside of said table, a beveled gear upon oneend of" said longitudinal shaft, said beveled gear adapted to mesh withsaid beveled gear upon the said transverse shaft and adapted to operatethe transverse shaft, a belt wheel mounted upon said longitudinal shaft,said belt wheel projecting through the said table,

said rollers upon said transverse shafts being positioned within two ofthe said openings in the said table in order to allow the endless beltpassing thereover, to also pass over the upper surface of the saidtable, a

beveled ear upon the other end of the said longitudinal shaft, avertically extending shaft rojecting through the said table and revolu1y secured in one of the said table openings, a gear wheel upon thelower end of said vertical shaft, said gear wheel adapted to mesh withthe last named gear wheel carried by the said longitudinal shaft, and tobe operated thereby, an interrupted cam track surrounding said verticalshaft, radially extending arms secured to said vertical shaft andprojecting over said cam track, canceling stamps carried upon the outerfree ends of the said radially extending arms, and means for resilientlyholding said arms against the cam track.

2. In a canceling machine, the combination of a table, transverse shaftssecured to the underside of said table, rollers upon said transverseshafts near the ends thereof, an endless belt passing over said rollers,a beveled gear upon one of the said transverse shafts, a longitudinallyextending shaft carried upon suitable mountings, a beveled gear upon oneend of said longitudinal shaft for engagement with said beveled gear ofthe transverse shaft, a belt wheel mounted upon said longitudinal shaft,a beveled gear upon the other end of the said longitudinal shaft, avertically extending shaft carrying a ear wheel upon its lower end, saidgear wheel adapted to be engaged and rotated by the last named ear wheelcarried by the longitudinal shaft, radially extending arms carried bysaid vertical shaft, a circular interrupted cam track surrounding saidvertical shaft, said radial arms adapted to move upon the saidinterrupted cam track, means for retaining said radlal arms resilientlyengaged upon the said track, means for regulating the tension upon saidarms, canceling members carried by said arms, a cushion pad beneath thesaid endless belt, and an ink pad opposite said endless belt.

3. In a cancelin machine, the combination of a table having dependingside members and bearings, transversely extending shafts having theirends secured in one of said side members and bearings, rollers upon saidtransverse shafts, an endless belt passing over said rollers, alongitudinally extending shaft, a vertically extending shaft, said lonitudinal shaft having one end engaged wlth one of the transverse shafts,the other end of the said longitudinal shaft being in engagement withthe lower end of the said vertical shaft, means whereby the saidlongitudinal shaft may be operated to rotate both the said transverseshafts and the said vertical shaft, a cam track, radially extending armssecured to said vertical shaft, and adapted to rotate therewith, saidarms resiliently engaged against the upper face of the said cam trackand adapted to be raised and lowered by the said cam track during theirrotary movement thereupon, canceling members carried by said arms, acushion pad, and an ink pad.

4. In a canceling machine, a table, transverse shafts, a longitudinalshaft, connections between one of said transverse shafts and the saidlongitudinal shaft, a vertical shaft, connections between saidlongitudinal shaft and said vertical shaft, rollers carried by saidtransverse shafts, a belt engaged over said rollers, guide members uponsaid belt, a cushion pad beneath said belt, an ink pad carried by saidtable opposite the said belt, a belt wheel mounted upon one of the saidshafts, a squared flange integral with said vertical shaft approximatelymidway of its length, threads upon said vertical shaft from the saidflange to the upper end of the said shaft, an inverted cup mounted uponsaid vertical shaft, radially extending arms pivotally secured to thesaid inverted cup, substantially U-shaped springs each having forkedends and a square central opening, said springs adapted to be placedupon the said shaft in 'an inverted position, the squared flange fittinsnugly within the said square opening of said springs, the said forkedends of the springs fitting over the radial arms, a spacing collarfitting around the squared flange and a part of the threaded portion ofthe said vertical shaft, and resting upon the said springs, and atension wheel having a threaded central opening working upon the saidthreaded portion of the said vertical shaft to adjust the tension of thesaid springs.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature, in the presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES A. PFALZGRAF.

Witnesses:

A. S. ELLINesoN, MARTIN I'IARALDSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

